Pistoleer Archive

Okay...so here's how it is...

I currently have novice pistoleer, and no more. Im thinking I want to follow the tree to completion, but I have a few questions about things that seem to me to be major issues (although some of them are not exclusively relevant to the pistoleer)

1) How is the HAM cost for specials determined. I have armor which has high encumberance...it is composite, wonderin...do you guys wear amr, if so what? Does armor even effect HAM special costs...if not, what does, secondary stats?...if so, how do you guys arrangestats ...Also, what guns do you use to avoid tremendously high HAM costs, cause my action bar chunks itself with my current FWG5.

2) What are some of the best PvP multiclass molds (ones including pistoleer), and which emphasizes what aspect of the game...healing? damage? Stuff I havent thought of?

3) What are the specific stats on the various special shots used by pistoleers and/or related classes such as smuggler or bh, in case I decide to get those as well....In addition to specific stats, which do you guys think are the best, and why

Well, Thats all I can think of immediately, but those are BIG questions...
Basically, I hope this turns into a "Whats best and why" forum, so that I, and other newbies considering this profession can have a centrally located guidebook detailing the oppinions of more experienced players, in language that a newbie can understand. My bet is that most of these answers were in the forums, even the ones I read, but I dont currently have the knowledge base to understand what exactly people meant and why they held their specific oppinion.

Tnx for puttin up with me and my nubleetness

1) HAM cost is based on the HAM costs of your gun and your strength, quickness, and focus for health, action, and mind costs respectively. The higher they are, the less HAM it takes from that bar to use a special. Almost all attacks drain some of each bar, but mostly action.

2) 2 of the best are BH/Pistoleer and Pistoleer/Doctor, and Pistoleer/Smuggler is very viable.

BH/Pistoleer does extremely high damage, extremely fast with Stopping Shot or Eye Shot. They usually have no problem with armor because the Scatter Gun is AP1, but thereis reinforced composite armor against acid now that has 80% acid resist. The HAM costs on this armor are higher than normal, and so my guess is they'd only wear get the helmet for Eye Shot protection, but some people may wear a full suit of this stuff, cutting your damage down to a tickle.

Pistoleer/Doctor is also very good. I like this because I've done it before. With the previously mention helmet, you can take BH/Pistoleers who aren't armored, and I know on my server, you'd be surprised how many people don't wear armor normally. With your buffs you can easily wear armor yourself and should do so. Being able to buff yourself all the time is great. You don't have to worry about running out of action for specials and can take the damage from multiple opponents to beat them. Your also immune to one shot kills with a decent buff. Quick wound healing is also great for getting back into the fight after fighting commandos, and you have nothing to fear from disease or CM poison. Armored opponents are a problem because of no good armor piercing weaponry. Also succeptible to carbine BH/carbineers if you get dizzy/KDed.If they put you down, they can take you out before you get up, but that's a problem for everyone. But overall, it's great.

Pistoleer/Smuggler is also very strong because of Panic Shot. It causes a 10 second delay, which is more than enough time to kill almost anyone with Last Ditch and Master Gunfighter speed if you got it.

3) Here's some info on the shots that really matter.

Fan Shot - Cone AoE random HAM pistoleer shot. Rocks in PvP vs. groups, and your best attack anyway as non-BH without a very fast pistol.

Stopping Shot - Very high damage single target random HAM pistoleer shot. Your main BH/Pistoleer attack and works for Master Gunmen with very fast (1.3 or faster) pistols.

Eye Shot - BH Mind attack. Attack of choice for BH/Pistoleersuntil Stopping Shot versus anyone without a high acid resist helmet.

Panic Shot - 10 second delay cone AoE smuggler delay shot. As far as I know, it will always work when it hits, making it very powerful. At high levels, 10 seconds is more than enough time to kill anyone buffed and in full composite (with AP0 guns anyway).

Last Ditch - Extremely high damage random HAM stunning smuggler shot. Puts Stopping Shot to shame, but you need pistoleer to make this effective beyond a lucky one shot.

There you go, that's my take on everything. Hope it helps.

Thanks a ton, I'll consider all youve said. So many tempting profession templates =)

Tnx again.